TOKYO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Japan's main opposition parties said on Wednesday that they had decided to put forward single candidates in most of the one-seat districts in the upcoming upper house election this summer in order to compete effectively against the ruling party's candidates.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Democratic Party for the People and the Japanese Communist Party have agreed to cooperate in 30 out of the 32 one-seat districts.
For these 30 constituencies, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan will field candidates in seven prefecture-based constituencies, such as Aomori and Miyagi, followed by the Democratic Party for the People's five.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Communist Party will file candidates in three districts, including two electoral constituencies which are each made up of two neighboring prefectures -- Tottori and Shimane prefectures as well as Tokushima and Kochi prefectures.
Since the six-year term for half of the members of the House of Councillors will expire on July 28, an election is required. In the upcoming upper house elections, 124 seats will be contested and voters will cast two ballots -- one to choose electoral district representatives and one under proportional representation.
Local media forecast that if the current parliamentary session is not extended, July 21 could be the most probable date for the upper house election to be held.
